HCA: Hermit Crab Association

Since you've come to the emergency forum, we know you want a fast answer to your question. In order for us to figure out the problem as quickly as possible, we ask that you answer the following questions as best you can. Some of them may seem odd, but they're all designed to give us the information we need to give you a good solution for your problem. The things in the [ brackets ] are there to make this post easier to read once submitted. Thanks!


1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

I use eco earth and play sand mix and it's three times as deep as my crab.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Not right now

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

I don't have one on this tank (will explain why)

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Salt and fresh (prime and a salt mix for saltwater aquariums I forget the brand)

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

Veggie mixand protein mix I also I've them fresh fruits from the fridge.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

A little over a year
He was from a friend and he's a purple pincher.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

Yes right now.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

20 gallon with aquarium glass lid.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

1 and a medium

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

Non right now

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Spot clean weekly then once a month ish for pools and fakes plant but pools are filtered so sometimes longer

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

No

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

No

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

I am in the process of moving all my crabs into my new ish 40 gallon tank. Three of them have been in it all summer and are thriving and nothing is wrong with that tank but I still have substrate, two pools, a small food dish, and one hide in my 20 for my crab (cheese) who I think is still molting.

I have moved my crabs to a bigger tank like this before and this has worked for me and nothing has gone wrong until now.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Cheese is a medium crab and has been molting for it feels like a long time. I am aware that bigger crab will take longer to molt but he has been down for all summer and some. However I don't remember exactly when he went down. I'm just concerned whether or not he had a successful molt. I went on vacation for a week (I had someone come in a couple times to check on all of them) and when I came back there was this weird thing that looked like it was growing in the sand on the glass of the 20. Now before I left there were tiny little weird holes on the front under the sand but I thought that was just cheese by the glass. But when I look at these ones it looks gross and is a lot bigger.

I don't know what to do or how to get it out or if cheese is alive or not I need help please!!

The thing to upload pictures isn't working but it kind looks like this but with like white stuff in the holes and like gunk.

https://www.google.com/search?q=cut%20i ... sid=mosaic

https://www.shellhorizons.com/details.a ... -12&Page=1

1. What kind of substrate is used in your tank and how deep is it?

I use eco earth and play sand mix and it's three times as deep as my crab.

2. Do you have gauges in the tank to measure temperature and humidity? If so, where are they located and what temperature and humidity do they usually read?

Not right now
Curly - I presume you moved it to the new tank? What is your room temperature? How are you ensuring that the heat and humidity are good for the crab who is underground?

3. Is a heat source used in the tank? If so, what?

I don't have one on this tank (will explain why)

4. What types of water are available (fresh or salt) and how is the water treated (what brands of dechlorinator or salt mix and what ratio is used to mix it)?

Salt and fresh (prime and a salt mix for saltwater aquariums I forget the brand)
Curly - Be sure you are using a marine salt like Instant Ocean.

5. What kinds of food do you feed and how often is it replaced?

Veggie mixand protein mix I also I've them fresh fruits from the fridge.

6. How long have you had the crab and what species is it, if known?

A little over a year
He was from a friend and he's a purple pincher.

7. Has your crab molted, and how long ago did it happen?

Yes right now.

8. What type of housing are the crabs kept in, what size is it and what kind of lid is on the housing?

20 gallon with aquarium glass lid.

9. How many crabs are in the tank and about how large are they?

1 and a medium

10. How many extra shells are usually kept in the tank, if any?

Non right now
Curly - Because they are all in the other tank?

11. Have there been any fumes or chemicals near the crabitat recently?

No

12. How often do you clean the tank and how?

Spot clean weekly then once a month ish for pools and fakes plant but pools are filtered so sometimes longer

13. Are sponges used in the water dish? If so, how are they cleaned?

No

14. Has anything new been added to your crabitat recently?

No

15. Is there any other information you would like to share that might be helpful (anything that is regularly part of your crab care, playtime, bathing, etc.)?

I am in the process of moving all my crabs into my new ish 40 gallon tank. Three of them have been in it all summer and are thriving and nothing is wrong with that tank but I still have substrate, two pools, a small food dish, and one hide in my 20 for my crab (cheese) who I think is still molting.

I have moved my crabs to a bigger tank like this before and this has worked for me and nothing has gone wrong until now.

16. Please describe the emergency situation in detail.

Cheese is a medium crab and has been molting for it feels like a long time. I am aware that bigger crab will take longer to molt but he has been down for all summer and some. However I don't remember exactly when he went down. I'm just concerned whether or not he had a successful molt. I went on vacation for a week (I had someone come in a couple times to check on all of them) and when I came back there was this weird thing that looked like it was growing in the sand on the glass of the 20. Now before I left there were tiny little weird holes on the front under the sand but I thought that was just cheese by the glass. But when I look at these ones it looks gross and is a lot bigger.

I don't know what to do or how to get it out or if cheese is alive or not I need help please!!

The thing to upload pictures isn't working but it kind looks like this but with like white stuff in the holes and like gunk.
Curly - I wonder if it might be mushrooms?

The temp in the room is around 70 and I have no way to to set up bubbles in that tank for humidity because it's being used for my 40.

And I have loads of extra shells for the other three crabs.

My mom thinks it could be an exo skeleton but it looks to big

Would I have to clean it somehow? But how would I if he's molting?

So the tank is probably the same temp as the room, if you don't have an added source of heat. And the humidity as well, I would guess. You need to consider whether the tank is too cold and not humid enough for the molting crab. Is the substrate still sand castle consistency, or is it drying out?

I've been misting the sand.
Is that helping keeping the sand to the right consistency?

It's spread a little bit more since I've last checked.
If it's mushrooms does it need to be taken out?

It does sound like you have a mold or other fungus growing in there. Anything that big I personally would remove, but I’m willing to bet it’ll come back eventually


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Ok thank you

But is my crab fine just molting because once he is done I'm moving him to the 40 gallon and the 20 will be gotten rid of